What will Pat Toomey's role be in 2012 politics?

January 04, 2012|By Colby Itkowitz | Call Washington Bureau

Washington — He lacks the celebrity of Sarah Palin or the political stature of Chris Christie, but an endorsement from Pat Toomey would be measured within Republican ranks as a coup for many candidates.

For four years, the Pennsylvania Republican was a professional knee-capper, targeting incumbent lawmakers deemed not worthy by the powerful anti-tax group Club for Growth, which he led. Now he’s a U.S. senator coming off an impressively high-profile inaugural year.

Although at least 11 of his Senate GOP colleagues have made presidential endorsements — 10 for Mitt Romney, including former presidential candidate John McCain on Wednesday, and one for Rick Perry — Toomey is holding his fire.

In an interview with The Morning Call, Toomey said he’s had “candid, constructive conversations” with most of them — except unsurprisingly Jon Huntsman, the “moderate” of the field — and made it clear he’s not endorsing.

“I’m going to let that run its course,” Toomey said before the holidays. “But I think I can play a role in a number of Senate races around the country, and I’m attempting to do that. I want more allies [in the Senate], people who are going to stand up and do the right thing — especially in restoring fiscal discipline.”

He has endorsed Republican U.S. Senate candidates in Texas, Michigan, Ohio and Arizona. From his political action committee, he has given $5,000 each to three of them. All but one are also on the Club for Growth’s endorsed candidates list.

(There’s one race he won’t touch: the Republican primary scrum to take on Democratic colleague Bob Casey in Pennsylvania, even though Toomey’s political director and campaign manager from last year are working for two of the Republican hopefuls.)

T.J. Rooney, former chairman of the Pennsylvania Democrats, said Toomey could help several of the presidential candidates as a proven conservative who chased Arlen Specter from the Republican Party and as an industrious politician with a vast network.

“With Toomey you have someone who can actually deliver on Election Day,” Rooney said. “You could make the argument [his clout] reaches beyond the confines of Pennsylvania.”

For what it’s worth, Toomey said his read of the national political landscape has him cautiously optimistic for a Republican presidential victory in Pennsylvania.

“That’s not a guarantee by any means, but unlike previous cycles where I think it was wishful thinking on the part of Republicans that Pennsylvania was in play, this cycle I think Pennsylvania is totally in play,” he said.

Early polls show Pennsylvania competitive, with President Barack Obama narrowly besting named and unnamed Republican presidential candidates among the state’s likely voters.

Toomey’s view may stem from his own recent victory. Although a strict fiscal conservative with tea party affiliations and the author of a book suggesting privatizing Social Security and shifting to a federal “flat” income tax, he last year won a state with 1 million more registered Democrats than Republicans and one of the country’s largest elderly populations.

Chris Chocola, who now heads the Club for Growth, said Toomey’s “conservative credentials are unimpeachable.”

Toomey is the “go-to guy” for conservatives, Chocola said. “I think that Pat’s example has been if you stand unapologetically on conservative principles, everything is going to be OK.”

That stalwart reputation, coupled with his national exposure through his placement on the so-called supercommittee, has some insiders speculating about Toomey as a candidate for vice president.

John Brabender, a Republican consultant who is running Rick Santorum’s presidential campaign, said that when Republican strategists begin assessing who is perfect on paper for the job, he couldn’t imagine Toomey’s not making the list.

The National Review first broached the idea, citing Toomey’s emergence in a crucial swing state. When asked about the chatter, Toomey just smiled, refusing to say he wouldn’t accept it if offered, and prepared with the tried and true political stock response.

“Well, it’s flattering,” Toomey said. “I think it’s such a long shot, I haven’t given it any thought. I’m focusing on how to be a good senator from Pennsylvania.”